Classic Poem

Thou meekest emblem of the infant year,
— Why droops so cold and wan thy fragrant head?
— Ah! why retiring to thy frozen bed,
Steals from thy silky leaves the trembling tear?

Day's op'ning eye shall warm thy gentle breast,
— Revive thy timid charms and sickly hue;
— Thy drooping buds shall drink the morning dew,
And bloom again by glowing Phoebus drest;

Or should the midnight damp, with icy breath,
— Nip thy pale cheek, and bow thee to the ground,
— Or the bleak winds thy blossoms scatter round,
And all thy modest beauties fade to death;
— E'ndash in decay thy spotless sweets shall rise,
— And midst Aurora's Tears evap'rate in the Skies.

Thou meekest emblem of the infant year,
— Why droops so cold and wan thy fragrant head?
— Ah! why retiring to thy frozen bed,
Steals from thy silky leaves the trembling tear?

Day's op'ning eye shall warm thy gentle breast,
— Revive thy timid charms and sickly hue;
— Thy drooping buds shall drink the morning dew,
And bloom again by glowing Phoebus drest;

Or should the midnight damp, with icy breath,
— Nip thy pale cheek, and bow thee to the ground,
— Or the bleak winds thy blossoms scatter round,
And all thy modest beauties fade to death;
— E'ndash in decay thy spotless sweets shall rise,
— And midst Aurora's Tears evap'rate in the Skies.